Rodrigo Villalba
Full name: Rodrigo Javier Villalba Benítez
Country: Paraguay
Date of birth: 02/03/2006 (17 years old)
Place of birth: Paraguay
Height: —
Youth career: Club Libertad
Senior career: Guaireña (on loan), Club Libertad
Squad number: —
Current national team: Paraguay U-17
Position: winger, second striker
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 150.000 €
Tournaments participated in: 2023 South American U-17 Championship (7/4)
Contract until: unknown
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Sadio Mané
Strengths:
– pace 
– acceleration
– dynamism
– technique
– ball control
– dribbling
– agility
– flair
– off-the-ball movement 
– finishing
– first touch
– athleticism
– bravery
To improve:
– should work on his extensive passing skills and final ball
– efficiency in defensive duels
Style of play:
– inside forward
– player of a diminutive figure with a stocky build, low centre of gravity, and good physical strength for a player of his size
– great agility, body balance, changes of pace, and coordination
– very good technical ability, 1vs1 short-dribbling skills, close ball control, and fast direction shifts in possession
– player that always tries to find a vertical option in his game, so he is very capable of pushing his team forward to finishing positions
– likes to dribble
– likes to use tricks and feints to get past his opponents
– unpredictable player who likes to vary his play by cutting inside, entering the penalty area, making quick combinations with his teammates, running to the by-line, or swapping wings
– possesses powerful mid-range and long-range shooting skills
– spectacular player able to make solo dribbling runs to beat the defensive line and make a difference at any time
– creative at his off-the-ball movements and likes to find the best space to receive the ball with good timings
– very explosive over the first meters/superb motor skills
– very strong in 1v1 situations, positive with the ball at his feet, and confident of his skills
– mobile and skillful at beating his markers and evading pressure
– extremely dangerous on the counter thanks to his electric pace and acceleration
– likes to make quick one-twos with his teammates
– likes to make effective off-the-ball/shoulder runs to beat the defensive line
– able to dribble and make quick combinations with his teammates at top speed
– extremely difficult to knock off the ball thanks to his low centre of gravity and excellent close control
– gets fouled often
– all-action and energetic
– competent indirect set-piece taker
Villalba with a surging run into the penalty area, he loses his opponents with a quick feint, and scores with a superb finish.
Villalba cuts inside, gets past two opponents with ease, but his shot is saved by the goalkeeper.
Villalba shows his electric pace in the counter-attack and gets fouled.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Left winger in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
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League summary (as for 4 May 2023):
Primera División de Paraguay 2022: 10 games/0 goals (Guaireña)
Description:
Rodrigo Villalba is a product of the Club Libertad youth academy. He is considered to be Gumarelo’s most talented youth player since Julio Enciso who moved to Brighton for a club-record fee. In July 2022, he was sent to Guaireña FC on loan and made his professional debut for this club on 15 July 2022 in the Paraguayan Primera División game against Tacuary. In April 2023, Rodrigo was Paraguay’s leader and top scorer at the Sudamericano U-17, in which young Albirrojas finished 5th.
Quotes:
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Football Talent Scout potential rating:
First team material in a top European league.
Links: